We all know what infamous director Uwe Boll has done to gaming films, churning out shlock loosely based on gaming properties - but there are a few video game films out there that are actually quite good. While these films certainly aren’t your Citizen Kane of gaming movies, they capture the spirit of the game that they were based on, and are certainly worth a watch if you’re looking for a great popcorn flick.

Comprised of a cast filled with nobodies, DOA: Dead or Alive wasn’t exactly set up for success. It was released straight-to-DVD in the United States, though it deserved a full theatrical release over some other video game adaptions (we’re looking at you, In the Name of the King). Similar to the scenario in Mortal Kombat, fighters from around the world are invited to participate in a secret martial arts tournament. Things quickly go south when four fighters find that the organizer of the tournament, Donovan, is hiding something devastating.

It’s a bit of a weak premise, but the idea that fights to the death could occur at any moment is pretty neat. Two characters could be working together, when suddenly, their names are chosen and one of them must kill the other. That helped liven up the somewhat stale formula.

Following the tale of Agent 47, Hitman casts Timothy Olyphant as the harrowing elite assassin. He’s cold, ruthless, and completes his mission at any cost- all the makings of a perfect killer. Director Xavier Gens captures the discomforting feeling of the original games in the opening sequence of the film, where children are having barcodes tattooed on the back of their bald heads and receiving tactical training. It sets the tone for the whole movie in a subtle and brilliant way.

Though some areas of the film might lack substance, the gunfire-filled action sequences are exceptional. Olyphant captures the subtlety of Agent 47 wonderfully, accounting for all his odd quirks; it’s a treat to see how 47 takes advantage of his surroundings and utilizes the disguises made available to him.

Max Payne isn’t your average action film. In fact, it’s hardly fair to call it an action film. It’s beautiful American noir film that keeps the striking visual appeal of the Max Payne games without going overboard. Max Payne features an exceptionally strong cast with Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Ludacris, Beau Bridges, and Chris O’Donnel all playing central characters.

Despite the strong supporting cast, the film focuses mainly on Max and his struggle with the loss of his wife and daughter. He’s a part of the NYPD Cold Case unit, but can’t seem to solve the murder of his own family. It’s a brutal tale that hinges on Max’s struggle with himself and the demons that he has created. If you’re planning on getting the whole Max Payne experience, grab yourself the Unrated copy, as things were toned down for theatrical release - which is the exact opposite of what Max Payne should be.

The first in a series of films based on the Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil is a fun horror flick from Paul W.S. Anderson. It doesn’t follow the story of the game, but instead follows new protagonist Alice (played by the lovely Milla Jovovich) and a group of Umbrella Corporation soldiers as they work to contain the outbreak of the T-Virus. It’s a simple plot that drags on a bit long, but RE is a fun thrill ride regardless.

Alice’s main opposition isn’t the virus itself, but rather the Red Queen, the AI that’s been programmed to use its automated systems to exterminate the virus by killing everyone inside. These automated systems make for one of the best gore scenes in horror history, as characters are sliced and diced by the facility's laser defenses that sweep down a hallway filled with commandos, eventually turning into an unavoidable checker pattern that slices everything in its path.

After a long and tumultuous process of actually getting the movie made, Doom was released to a mixed reception. It wasn’t really based on the game, but it had a similarly out-there story that made for some good fun. When scientists are attacked by monsters on Mars in the year 2046, eight Marines, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Karl Urban, are sent to the research facility (by way of a mysterious device housed within Area 51) to see just what the hell is going on.

In a cool twist, the film takes on a first-person perspective for three minutes near the end of the film, capturing the tense essence of the classic shooter. It was something that hadn’t really been tried in a full-scale action movie before, so it wasn’t done as well as it could have been - but it’s still an exhilarating scene that was a huge throwback for fans of the original games.

Perhaps one of the most fondly remembered video game movies, Super Mario Bros is a classic when it comes to video game film adaptations. It didn’t do well critically or commercially (failing to regain even half of its $48 million budget), but it’s still has a nostalgic resonance for gamers who remember playing Mario titles on the NES. It takes every stereotype that was ever associated with the question “What if Mario and Luigi were real people?” and brings them to life.

The brotherly plumbers are having a rough time in New York thanks to sabotage by the Scapelli Construction Company. Next thing you know, the Italian heroes are face to face with King Koopa, portrayed with the kind of insane panache that only Dennis Hopper can muster. It’s full of funny one-liners and nods to fans, like the tiny “bomb-ombs” that Mario and Luigi throw. This is a quirky flick that’s best enjoyed when watching with (preferably inebriated) friends.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time had engaging action, huge production values, and spectacle of a story – not to mention high-profile actors like Jake Gyllenhaal and Ben Kingsley. The film was a loose retelling of the first game - but that shouldn’t be seen as a knock against it, as the story worked well as part of a blockbuster-style flick. While there were some small problems with the film’s direction itself, they were balanced out by the great action sequences and use of special effects for the sands’ time-warping properties.

Since most of the movie takes place in the desert, most of the shooting was live-action, but there were also some effects shots (the finale comes to mind) that were simply stunning. Gyllenhaal played Prince Dastan surprisingly well, channeling his struggles from Warrior Within and The Two Thrones into a faithful portrayal. It’s somewhat surprising that there hasn’t been any talk of a sequel, despite the fact that the movie brought in over $335 million.

Tomb Raider is the definitive example of how to make a video game movie. Sure, it might get some things wrong, but it sticks to the source material and make things fun to watch in the process. Lara Croft’s first film does just that, making for one of the most adventurous film adaptations to date. There’s action around every corner, and Angelina Jolie does a great job of capturing Lara’s smoldering sexiness and combat prowess.

It featured a great cast comprised of heavy hitters like Jon Voight and Daniel Craig that gave it some much needed legitimacy. If you’re on the fence about the whole thing, just go watch it. You’re guaranteed to have some fun with the over-the-top action sequences that prove just how ridiculous the events of the Tomb Raider games would be in real life.

Before taking the helm on the Resident Evil movies, Paul W.S. Anderson directed Mortal Kombat, one of the first video game movies that managed to appeal to a mainstream audience while sticking faithfully to its source material. The film follows the story of the evil Shang Tsung’s plot to destroy Earth, and the combined forces of Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, and Liu Kang are the only thing that can stop him. Combatants must enter Mortal Kombat, a deadly martial arts tournament, to stop the Outworld Realm from winning the tournament for the tenth time, allowing them to invade the Earthrealm. Yeah, it doesn’t make a ton of sense – but who cares when the action delivers?

While the premise is a bit silly, as is the movie itself, the quirky nature of the film fits right in with the characters themselves, who are constantly cracking jokes and wearing ridiculous outfits the entire time. Despite the goofy costume design, the fight scenes are genuinely exciting, and the film is filled with references that big MK fans will appreciate.

Silent Hill isn’t your typical video game movie by any means. It boasted a large budget of $50 million, which is huge for a horror movie based on a video game. It also had some great talent attached to it, with Roger Avary (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) credited as the writer and the relatively unknown director, Christophe Gans, who directed the underappreciated Brotherhood of the Wolf. Together, they crafted a wonderfully thrilling horror title that still has me thinking about the ending.

Taking the basic themes from the psychological horrors of the first four Silent Hill games, the film follows a different, but similar, path into bleak oblivion. When Rose and Christopher take their adopted daughter, Sharon, to the town of Silent Hill, things go awry quickly when Sharon goes missing after a frightening car crash. As you can imagine, the town is a pretty messed-up place, filled with vile monsters like the fan-favorite Pyramid Head, and the film portrays them with a gruesome authenticity.

Are there any video game movies you hate to love or love to hate? Comment below on which video game movies are your favorite that you think we missed.

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